Jaz Coleman British rock musician, singer, pianist and composer Date of Birth: 26.02.1960 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Musical Education
2. Killing Joke
3. Classical Collaborations
4. Residency and Orchestral Commissions
5. "The Marriage at Cana"

Early Life and Musical Education

Jaz Coleman was born on February 26, 1960, in Cheltenham, England. His parents were teachers, his father being English and his mother of Anglo-Indian descent. At the age of six, he began playing the piano and violin, studying music at Cheltenham College until he was 17 under Eric Coleridge and singing in the Addington Palace Choir.

Killing Joke

In 1979, Coleman co-founded the post-punk band Killing Joke with drummer Paul Ferguson. As the band's frontman and primary songwriter, he established Killing Joke as a pioneering force in industrial music, influencing bands such as Nirvana, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and Metallica.

Classical Collaborations

In addition to his work with Killing Joke, Coleman pursued a diverse range of musical interests. He studied composition in Leipzig and Cairo, resulting in collaborations with Ann Dudley and renowned Cairo instrumentalists. His first symphony, "Idavoll," led to comparisons to Mahler from German conductor Klaus Tennstedt.

Residency and Orchestral Commissions

In 1992, Coleman became composer-in-residence with the Auckland Philharmonia, where he met Philip Glass and collaborated with world-renowned orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic. Over a decade, he released 15 classical albums, including "Riders On The Storm: The Doors Concerto," which arranged the music of The Doors as a violin concerto with Nigel Kennedy.

"The Marriage at Cana"

In 2001, Coleman composed his first full-scale opera, "The Marriage at Cana," for the Royal Opera House. Its libretto, by Lawrence Gardner, explored the Gnostic relationship between Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. The opera premiered at Royal Opera House, accompanied by paintings depicting its storyline by Andrew Jones.